New 3D Puzzle Games Allow Players to Step 'Inside' the Iconic Rubik's Cube

The Game Factory ltd, an international publisher of family-friendly and casual videogames, today announced it has signed a licensing agreement with Seven Towns Limited to publish RUBIK’S PUZZLE WORLD, a 3D puzzle game experience for the Nintendo Wii™ and DS™ systems, both inspired by the Rubik’s Cube.

“The Rubik’s Cube is one of the most well known icons in the gaming and entertainment industry,” says Henrik Mathiasen, president of the Game Factory. “We’re honored that Seven Towns Limited has chosen us to take the Rubik’s experience to the next level with Rubik’s Puzzle World. We feel confident that we have created a concept for the whole family that is innovative, challenging and addictive, offering a new twist in the puzzle genre while keeping the Rubik’s Cube core values alive.”“We’re pleased to be working with the Game Factory to enhance the Rubik’s brand with Rubik’s Puzzle World,” says David Hedley Jones, for Seven Towns Limited, a London-based company that has introduced hundreds of successful original games and toys throughout the world in the past 35 years. “We’re confident that everybody will enjoy this video game experience.”

Step Inside the Cube’ with Rubik’s WorldFor those who have always wondered what the inside of a Rubik’s Cube looks like, the Game Factory will deliver Rubik’s Puzzle World during Autumn 2008. Designed for players aged eight and older, this otherworldly game will look and play like no other game on the market. A collection of extremely addictive, easy-to-play puzzle games will increase in difficulty as the player delves deeper into this 3D world.

Each version of Rubik’s Puzzle World will host its own unique and original series of games. Players will test their brainpower by constructing 3D shapes and objects, navigating through mazes and even creating their own soundtracks. The DS™ version will allow players to connect to a community of Rubik’s Puzzle World enthusiasts through the platform’s wireless connection. The Wii™ version accommodates up to four players and will feature an online message board.

Rubik’s Cube Facts

In 1980, the Rubik’s Cube, was launched on an unsuspecting world with a Hollywood party hosted by the "other" famous Hungarian Zsa Zsa Gabor. Little did anyone know it would become the world’s biggest-selling puzzle. So iconic did The Cube become that it earned a place in New York’s Museum of Modern Art, and its own entry in the Oxford English Dictionary; not to mention worldwide sales exceeding 300 million copies. Today it looks the same, it works the same and it’s still incredibly popular.

The Rubik's Cube has featured in major movies, ad campaigns, generated huge sales of T-shirts and apparel, been used as an iconic image for lottery games and scratch cards; and along with the brand's other 3D twisting puzzles still generates a huge amount of public interest, recognition and affection.

Turbine, Inc. and Codemasters Online announced the details of the fifth content update for subscribers to The Lord of the Rings Online™: Shadows of Angmar™. Book 13: Doom of the Last-king continues the epic story of The Lord of the Rings Online, adds an entire new region to the world of Middle-earth, a new Monster Play class and the introduction of the hobby system. Book 13: Doom of the Last-king is available now to subscribers of The Lord of the Rings Online in North America and Europe.

“The Lord of the Rings Online has grown dramatically in scale, content and the size of our community in its first year of operation,” said Jim Crowley, president and CEO of Turbine, Inc. “We’ve received a very positive response from players about the new region of Forochel and the long-awaited addition of fishing that adds an entirely new level of fun and enjoyment to the game. It’s been an incredible first year and we are hard at work finishing up Book 14 slated for release this summer. All of us are very excited for our journey this fall into the Mines of Moria.”

"We have seen a huge increase in overall players over the last few months as more people than ever move to Middle-earth", said David Solari Vice President of Codemasters Online. "After a fantastic first year we look forward to continued momentum as more and more people try this incredible game".

NEW FEATURES:New Region – In the far, frozen north of Eriador lies Forochel, a land unlike any other in Middle-earth. This new region lets players see the ocean for the first time and introduces several new temperature based landscape effects. Players will need to be mindful of the cold due to a new damage type – frost. Frost will slowly damage their character until they find a source of warmth in the form of shelter or a campfire.New Faction – Beneath the brooding skies of Forochel dwell the hardy tribes known as the Lossoth. Suspicious of outsiders, they have long warred against other folk – especially the Guaredain, bloodthirsty wolf-loving barbarians in league with the forces of Angmar. Players can earn favor with the Lossoth by helping them in the struggle against their ancient enemy in this latest addition to The Lord of the Rings Online’s (LOTRO) reputation system. Lossoth reputation rewards include unique armor sets, weapons, a new mount, housing decorations, and class specific itemsIntroducing the Defiler — The first new class for Monster Players debuts in Book 13. The Defiler is a healer that will round out any War Band in their quest to dominate the Ettenmoors. The Defiler uses new healing skills such as Fertile Slime and Fungal Bloom to aid its party in battle and has a host of new Debuff skills including Curse of the Lethargic Heart to defeat their enemies.The Hobby System — The player hobby system is introduced in Book 13. Fishing is the first hobby being introduced in LOTRO. From the Midgewater Marshes to the Shores of Evendim, players will find fishing to be a relaxing, entertaining and beneficial pastime. Players can earn deeds and traits as they improve their fishing prowess and captured fish can be used to cook in recipes or be mounted as trophies in a player’s house.The Epic Continues! — At Elrond’s urging, players venture into the frozen wastes of the north to continue Laerdan’s search for the remnants of the ring Narchuil. Aided by the Snowmen of Forochel, players will uncover the fate of an ancestor of Aragorn and strive to thwart the terrible aims of Angmar.Over 100 New Quests — The story continues for players as they aid the Fellowship and encounter new adventures in Middle-earth.

ELSPA, the Entertainment Leisure Software Publishers’ Association, today reports that day one sales of Rockstar Games’ hugely anticipated Grand Theft Auto IV for Xbox 360 and PLAYSTATION 3 have comfortably eclipsed the previous record set by GTA: San Andreas in 2004. Tuesday 29th April sell through for Xbox 360 and PLAYSTATION 3 reached 609,000 units - comfortably beating the previous record: GTA: San Andreas for PS2, which sold 501,000 units on Friday 29th October, 2004.

“The scale of GTA’s day one sales are phenomenal and reflect a vibrant market which continues to grow. Gamers are from all age groups and demographics with estimates putting the total number of people in the UK who enjoy games at over 20 million,” said ELSPA managing director, Mike Rawlinson.

Square Enix Ltd., the publisher of Square Enix interactive entertainment products in Europe and other PAL territories, today announces the forthcoming release of FINAL FANTASY XI 2008 Edition, available from 23rd May.

FINAL FANTASY XI takes you into the world of Vana'diel during the aftermath of a great war, as you answer a desperate call to defend your people. In this first ever cross-platform massively multiplayer online game, you'll unite with other warriors as they save their world from utter destruction.

The brand-new 2008 Edition available for both Windows and Xbox 360 contains all four expansion packs, Rise of the Zilart, Chains of Promathia, Treasures of Aht Urghan and the latest expansion pack Wings of the Goddess.

John Yamamoto, president and chief executive officer of Square Enix Ltd. comments, "The world of FINAL FANTASY XI continues to grow with both new content and new players. FINAL FANTASY XI 2008 Edition allows interested players to join the adventure with the bonus of all the expansion pack content. I hope many more players enjoy and experience the exciting world of Vana'diel and all that FINAL FANTASY XI has to offer."

About WINGS OF THE GODDESS

New Combat Features:

An all-new "Allied Campaign" system will allow players to take part in large-scale battles and explore new special dungeons

New Areas:

New settings further expand the vast world of Vana'diel

Mog House Guests:

Players will be able to invite their friends to their Mog Houses, showing their personalised furniture and special items. It is a new way to talk about past adventures and future plans in an entirely customised setting.

New Jobs: Dancer and Scholar

New Monsters

About FINAL FANTASY XI

FINAL FANTASY XI was originally released on May 2002. In October 2003 the title was released in North America and the European release followed in September 2004.

FINAL FANTASY XI is the first MMORPG capable of simultaneous multiplayer action across three different platforms, allowing players worldwide to combine forces on Windows, PlayStation®2 (North America and Japan only) and Xbox 360.

FINAL FANTASY XI players from all over the world can unite in one gaming universe in a community of more than 500,000 players, and 1.7 million characters.

March 2007 saw the introduction of the French and German language versions of FINAL FANTASY XI creating an influx of new players. Those already playing will tell you this has added to a vibrant multi-cultural online community.

Jada Toys, Inc. unveiled today at the 2008 Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas, the Guitar Hero Air Guitar Rocker, an innovative electronic toy based on Activision, Inc.’s (Nasdaq: ATVI) blockbuster video game franchise, Guitar Hero®. With this new toy, consumers are able to unlock their inner rock star anywhere and jam to five famous tracks, as well as five original Air Guitar Rocker™ freestyle riffs. Available in stores in March 2008 for a suggested retail price of $29.99, the Guitar Hero Air Guitar Rocker will be on hand for demonstrations at CES in the Jada Toys, Inc. booth # 72349 at the Sands Hotel Convention Center.

“Jada has a stellar reputation of delivering high quality, trend-setting toys,” said Charles Huang, vice president of business development at Activision/RedOctane. “The Air Guitar Rocker is a unique product that captures the attitude of the Guitar Hero franchise perfectly, allowing rock fans and air guitar enthusiasts the opportunity to jam at will to some of the greatest guitar riffs of all-time.”

The Guitar Hero Air Guitar Rocker features patented technology which includes guitar pics and a rockin’ belt buckle that, when connected to a wearable, mini-amplifier, allows run-of-the-mill rock fans to transform into legendary guitarists. With an air guitar in hand, the user waves the pic over the belt buckle to determine the tempo of the song. The product comes with an Air Cartridge™ that features 10 guitar riffs, ranging in skill level from 1-5, including “Iron Man,” “Smoke on the Water,” “Ace of Spades,” “You Really Got Me,” “More Than a Feeling,” and five original Air Guitar Rocker freestyle riffs. Users are encouraged to listen to the demo tracks, then try to master the riffs on their own. The product can also be connected to external speakers to really rock the house!

“Jada’s motto is ‘Keeping It Real’ and we’re confident we did just that with the Guitar Hero Air Guitar Rocker,” said Jack Li, chief executive officer of Jada Toys, Inc. “Our innovative product pays homage to the great Guitar Hero brand by extending the fantasy of being a rock star to an exciting new format.”

The Guitar Hero Air Guitar Rocker will be available at retailers nationwide in March for a suggested retail price of $29.99. In the months following launch, Jada will introduce new buckles and new Air Cartridges, featuring more legendary heavy metal and new 80’s rock riff assortments.

Round up the lost residents of Kololo Kingdom and return them home in Rollin' Rascals, a puzzle game for Nintendo DS™ announced today by Majesco Entertainment Company (NASDAQ: COOL), an innovative provider of video games for the mass market. Developed by Hoget, Rollin' Rascals challenges players to reunite matching pairs of adorable critters-from pandas to puppies to pigs-by rolling them around obstacles and into each other to clear the game board of pets before time runs out.

"Rollin' Rascals is as charming as it is addictive; just a few rolls around the game board is enough to hook you on this easy-to-play little puzzler that gamers of all ages will enjoy," said Gui Karyo, Executive Vice President of Operations, Majesco.

The animals of Kololo Kingdom have been kidnapped and the only person who can bring them home is you! Featuring endearing round friends with a surprising amount of things to say, Rollin' Rascals wins players over with multiple difficulty levels across four modes of nonstop puzzle play: Attack, Challenge, Battle and the bonus Kololohouse mode that lets players create their own custom critter dwelling. Players can earn currency in both Challenge and Attack modes, which they can then use to shop for furniture and goods in Kololohouse mode. More competitive gamers can go head-to-head with a friend in the intense Battle mode and be the first to send all of their cuddly creatures home!